The Genesis of Plato's Thought

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It is often said that to understand Plato we must understand his times. Many readers who might accept without question this saying of historical criticism may still wonder why we should think it necessary to begin our enquiry as far back as Homer and beyond. In the case of Plato there is an even greater need to pursue the argument back to the very beginnings of the historical period in which he lived and worked. It is quite impossible to understand the genesis of Platoas ideas without understanding the profound change that Greek society underwent in the post-Homeric period that preceded him. This change in social structure created a mercantile, progressive Greek society, one which laid the foundations for all the subsequent history of Europe and the West. The Genesis of Platoas Thought is particularly highly regarded because it departs vigorously from the traditional abstract, static view of Platoas thought. Winspearas volume on Platoas thought traces, in a realistic fashion, the deep-reaching social and economic roots of Platoas concept of the state and society. Winspear believes that nowhere can the social roots of philosophy be more sharply seen and more firmly apprehended than when one is dealing with the origins of Western philosophy among the Greeks. His book contains the body of information which any reader should have if they wish to approach Plato as a historical figure. To make the book useful to a wide circle of readers, brief biographical identifications for the various important figures of Greek life are introduced in the text.The Phaedrus is usually regarded as a transitional document falling mid-way
between the Republic and the Thaetetus. The method of analysis used in this
book tends to confirm this judgement. ... the diagram printed here makes clear)
seems to represent Platoa#39;s political program for the last crisis of the Athenian
democracy in the last decade of the Fifth Century. ... On the Athenians who can
be relied on Post is surely right in seeing this as a plea for members of the
Academy (Note 35, p.

Title

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The Genesis of Plato's Thought

Author

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Alban Dewes Winspear

Publisher

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Transaction Publishers - 2012-12-31

ISBN-13

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